Scripture: Daniel 9 v 24 - 26: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary."
These profound and complex words were given to Daniel by the Archangel Gabriel, who was the same one who appeared to Mary to tell her she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. Unravelling those seventy weeks is very interesting.
Gabriel told Daniel to consider the vision. We must too. Firstly the weeks are weeks of years so the numbers must be multiplied by 7 to get the correct time frame.
Therefore seventy weeks becomes 490 years, which starts at the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes, which was when he commanded that Jerusalem be rebuilt. (Ezra 7). It was calculated that it took 483 years from that date to the death of Jesus, exactly 69 weeks i.e. seven weeks plus threescore and two weeks - 69 x 7 = 483. This must happen before the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, by the Romans under Titus.
On the walls of the Temple all the lineage of the 12 tribes of Israel were inscribed. If Jesus came after 70AD, His lineage back to David, would have been impossible to prove. Read Matthew 1 to see the lineage.
In verse 27 it says that the Messiah shall confirm the covenant with many for 1 week i.e. seven years. This other week refers to the seven year tribulation which is already in our sights. From the time that the Messiah was cut off, within that generation the Temple was destroyed as Jesus told them it would be. It took Israel 1900 years to return to their land.
In this final week Israel will recognize her Messiah, when the abomination that makes desolate, the Antichrist, will enter the Holy Place in the rebuilt Temple, and declare himself to be God. At that moment the eyes of Israel will be opened and they will flee into the mountains of Petra. This recognition happens midway through the seven years.
The first half of the Tribulation is called The beginning of sorrows by Jesus in Matthew 24. And the second half is known as the Wrath of the Lamb. I personally believe that the world revival will take place in the first half with the Rapture occurring midway. Then the 144 thousand Jewish boys will bring revival to the Jews, the true Bride, to prepare her for the completion of the Marriage Feast.
The Bridegroom, Jesus, is restored at the Rapture, when His actual Body, born again believers, rises to meet Him in the air. Jesus is the Head, the church is His body. At this point Satan tries to destroy the Bride again at the Battle of Armageddon, and the Bridegroom arrives to destroy that army and rescue her. Revelations 22 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come Lord Jesus!
In Daniel's prophecy as imparted by Gabriel, the Messiah would make an end of sin and bring in everlasting righteousness, which is what the life and death of Jesus did for those who believe in Him. To me this is a profound vision and prophecy as it accurately pinpoints the time the Messiah would be on Earth, plus the fact that the tribulation could only come after Israel became a nation again.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we do always pray for the peace of Jerusalem yet in a time of trouble Jesus will be revealed to Israel. Thank You for faithful prophets like Daniel, who preserved Your word for us to consider and understand. We long for Your Heavenly courts where all this will be behind us, and we will know You as we are known by You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
